About Psychiatric Nursing

bekindtokittens · Sep 27, 2008

I'm in psych right now, and the biggest thing I can think of is therapeutic communication. Read all you can about therapeutic communication, non-therapeutic communication, and defense mechanisms. And practice your therapeutic communication skills too! It's amazing. When you use them at first, it sounds a bit goofy, but man, people really open up...

teeniebert, LPN · Sep 27, 2008

Two things that have helped me when dealing with psych patients:

1. Don't take anything personally. Inside you may be screaming, but outside you need to keep your cool. If a patient knows they got to you, they will do it over and over again.

2. Don't share personal information. This includes talking with other students, staff, etc. while on the unit. You never know when a patient may be listening, and anything they find out about you can and probably will be used against you later (see #1)

Dark Avenger · Sep 27, 2008

well, in psychiatric nursing, try to study stages of development by freud, developmental task of erik erickson, maslow's hierarchy of needs, therapeutic communication techniques and defense mechanisms. it will be helpful through out your studies. it is basic but important to know. and useful.

GingerSue · Sep 27, 2008

Review the defense mechanisms.

Review stress and stress management.

Know the psych medications.

Prepare for hearing people expressing their delusions and experiences of hallucinations - and prepare for how to effectively deal with these.

Understand paranoia.

Be prepared to check patients returning from outside: for knives/sharps (they bring them in).